What Really Goes On Behind The Scenes At Walt Disney World
Many people cal Walt Disney World the happiest place on earth, and that may be the case for the millions of people who visit the theme parks each year, but what about the people who work there? For the most part, what goes on behind (and even under) the park is kept under wraps, but some former employees of Walt Disney World have recently revealed some very interesting tidbits of information.
Keep reading to find out what really goes on inside those character costumes. You'll never look at Disney World the same way again.
All Of The Employee Perks
Working at Walt Disney World comes with a whole bunch of bonus perks. Not only do you get to spend all day in a magical location, but you also get free admission to the parks on your day off. Employees also get discounts on food, beverages, and Disney merchandise.
Family members and friends of employees also get discount cards and coupons. Most employees get employee discounts at their place of business, but when you work at Disney World, those discounts are a bit more magical.
Disney Employees Are Very Knowledgable
"I don't know" is not a phrase you will ever hear a Disney employee utter (unless, of course, they're in character and fully embodying a character who doesn't know the answer to your question). Disney employees have to basically take a test before they can go out into the park and help guests have the time of their lives. They have to know everything about the park including where all of the rides are located as well as other technical information.
If they don't know the answer to your question, you can bet that they're going to make it their business to find out.
Employees Are Called Cast Members
For your information, Disney park employees are not called employees. They're called "Cast Members." That's because everything at Disney is a show. Cast Members are always required to be in character if they're walking around the park.
"Employee" is just too ordinary of a word for Walt Disney World. "Cast Member" makes people feel like going to work is like going to a performance. It's all part of the Disney magic. Former Disney employees refer to themselves as former Cast Members.
They Have To Keep Quiet On Social Media
Cast Members have to keep up appearances even when they are no longer in the parks. That means that they can't tweet about being a Disney Cast Member. That would spoil the illusion. They aren't allowed to post about being a Cast Member on Instagram or Facebook either. Guests need to believe that the Cast Member playing Cinderella really is CInderella.
This also means that you won't find any dirt on any of the Disney characters on social media.
Disney Has A Strict Dress Code
Even if you're not in costume, Disney has very strict rules about the way their employees dress. Employees who aren't playing a character are supposed to wear business casual attire. If an employee breaks dress code, they have to put on a costume for the rest of the day. Most Disney employees wear uniforms, though.
Disney wants all of their employees to look presentable, approachable, and professional. Nametags are almost always a must, especially for hotel staff and tour guides.
The Truth About The Parade Route
If you've ever been to Disney World, you've probably seen one of the famous Disney World parades. These parades attract a lot of attention, but because they happen every day, Cast Members basically have the whole parade route memorized.
The most common question asked of cast members at Walt Disney World is (try not to laugh) "What time is the 3 o'clock parade?" People get confused when they're on vacation. For your information, the three o'clock parade is at three o'clock.
Sharing Undergarments
Many of the Disney costumes require specialized undergarments, and because these undergarments aren't easy to come by, until 2001, many Disney Cast Members had to share underwear.
Unfortunately, these undergarments weren't always clean. Some cast members allegedly contracted lice or scabies from their skivvies. Disney learned their lesson and now there is no more underwear sharing allowed at the parks. Employees take their costume underwear home with them and wash it at home. It's much cleaner this way.
Cleaning Up At Disney
If you've ever been to a Disney park, you know how astoundingly clean those places are. Considering how many guests walk through the park a day, it's amazing that the park isn't full of garbage. The reason the park stays so clean is that every cast member at Disney is responsible for picking up trash and placing it in one of the many trash cans (they are placed every 25 feet)!
However, they aren't allowed to stop or lean over. It has to be done in one swift movement. Cast members say this takes a while to master!
No Tattoos Allowed
When you're working at Disney World, you can't have any visible tattoos, you have to have your long hair neatly pulled back (unless it's part of a costume), and must wear neutral-colored nail polish. In addition, your costume must be kept immaculately clean!
The Disney Code
Anytime a guest wanders into an area of the park that they aren't supposed to see, the cast members refer to them as "going backstage." This makes sense when you're in a place where EVERYTHING is part of a theatrical production!
Another fun fact about language is coming up next!
Sunken Into The Earth
Disney's Animal Kingdom is sunken several feet into the ground! Though some may think this is due to central Florida's iconic sinkholes, it's actually because the slight depression creates a better environment for the animals and guests. Whatever it takes to give the people a better experience, right?
They Can't Break Character
No matter what, Disney World cast members cannot break character while they're in costume. Even if they become ill. This is to avoid "breaking the magic" that the guest feels while they're in the park. That just means the cast members have to pull a Michael Jordan flu game if they become sick.
Stay tuned for a funny quip from cast members!
Those Costumes Are Tiny
Supposedly a vestige of sizing from the 1970s, the Disney cast member costumes are rumored to run very, very small. Whether this is the real reason, or there is actually some implied judgment in the costume sizes, employees learn to expect this blow. If you get hired, now you know to order up in sizes.
Pointing With Two Fingers
Walt Disney himself HATED it when people who make hand signals or gestures using only one finger. So, he required all his cast members to use two fingers while pointing, or, more simply, guide guests using an open palm. Don't even think about being caught using one finger.
How Disney Deals With Lost Children
For safety reasons, Disney cast members never refer to missing children as "lost children." Instead, they are called "lost adults" and referred to as that via the radio system. This is to prevent any opportunistic kidnappings from taking place while the child is located! That is a smart tactic that is sure to be used at other establishments as well.
All Those Hidden Mickeys
All around Walt Disney World, there are countless hidden Mickey Mouse heads. Guests like to spend their time in the park searching for these secret symbols and keeping track of where they find them! It's just another thing that makes Disney so special to visit. Do you think you can find them all?
What "Have A Disney Day" Really Means
If a cast member ever tells you to have "Have a Disney day", you've probably really pissed them off. We can assume cast members made up this code in order to stay sane and let off some steam while also keeping their jobs. Just tell them to have the same.
No Social Media
Disney cast members are welcome to use social media as much as they want… when they're off the clock. Social media and personal electronics are strictly banned while at work, and cast members can NEVER discuss their jobs on social media. EVER! Another electronics-based fact is included in this list, too!
No Selfies!
If you're caught taking pictures in your costume, you will be fired immediately. Apparently, Disney executives are really strict about this rule! If they find out about any selfies you took backstage, you can expect to kiss the Magic Kingdom goodbye for good!
Cast Members Are Subject To Size Requirements
If you think anybody of any size can play any Disney character, you'd be dead wrong. Disney designed their characters a certain way, and they don't want improper casting to mess with their designs.
That means that Cast Members who play Disney Princesses must be between 5'4" and 5"8" tall. Sorry very tall and very short ladies, you will never be a Disney princess. Unless, of course, a new very tall or very short princess is introduced.
Why Disney World Smells So Good
Have you ever wondered why certain parts of Disney World have specific smells? Well, wonder no further! Special machines called Smellitizers distribute scents throughout the park -- like fresh baked cookies on Main Street. A tactic that surely makes you want to buy some of those delicious cookies!
What "Code V" Really Means
Preserving the magic at Walt Disney World means refraining from uttering certain words and phrases. If a guest is sick on a ride or in the park, a Cast Member will get on their radio and report a "Code V." As you've probably guessed by now, "V" stands for vomit.
The Cast Members don't want to say the word vomit because they don't want to make any other guests feel sick. Plus, hearing the word vomit isn't a very magical experience.
Not Quite A Lost And Found
When a guest leaves an item behind at Walt Disney World, it is stored for a specified length of time. After that, though, any cast member who wants it has the opportunity to buy it in a special store. All the profits are donated to charity, proving that Disney really does make magic with everything they do.
Cast Members Hook Up Sometimes
And for a particularly shocking secret ... Apparently, many of the cast members at Walt Disney World are romantically involved… Rumors of Peter Pan and Wendy hooking up in a supply closet are only made worse when you hear the rumors about Aladdin and Ariel!
Perfecting Their Signatures
Cast members not only have to personify the attitudes and appearances of the characters they're playing (which let's face it, can get unrealistic at times), but they also have to learn to write like them, too. In fact, Disney provides training for all cast members to help them perfect their character's signature.
Keeping It Quiet
Cast members aren't even allowed to say which character they play. If asked, they're only allowed to say "I'm friends with [character]" or "I hang out with [character]." Anything to preserve the magic. Even if you try to trick them they will not fall for it.
Sometimes The Music Gets Annoying
You know when you hear a song played one too many times on the radio and it stops being catchy and starts being annoying? For Disney employees, the music never stops. Even when the park's closed, the music keeps going. Yet somehow they remain friendly!
Walt Disney's Plane
Cast members can pay homage to this history-soaked plane any time they're backstage. Used by Walt to do things like scout spots in Florida for what is now Disney World, it must be said that being privy to this plane is a perk of the gig.
No Backstage Selfies Allowed
Not only is sharing pictures or info on social media not allowed, cast members are not even allowed to take pictures backstage. We can assume that this is a newly adopted rule since only a few years ago, this probably wasn't something that was even an issue. Even if a celebrity that you adore is in the premises, don't take that picture.
All About Those Pins
Cast members at Disney World, but apparently not Disneyland, are required to wear a lanyard with at least 12 pins on it at all times. The pins are to be traded, and we can assume that the more pins you have, the better. Talk about some strict flair rules!
Keeping Their Facial Hair In Check
If you're still working on the ability to grown a full beard, you'll have to go clean-shaven as a Disney employee. Their facial hair rules require hair to be fully grown in, it must be neatly trimmed, and there is no grooming allowed. In other words, no goatees.
Other Hair Requirements
Not only does Disney have rules for beards, they also have rules on the length of male cast members' hair. For the guys who work at Disney, hair must not be so long that it extends over their ears or falls in their eyes. But apparently they allow Gaston to be an exception?
Keep Those Eyebrows On
There are also some pretty strict rules when it comes to female cast members' hair. Especially when it comes to the kinds of hairstyles cast members who are not in costume can wear. Female cast members may not shave their eyebrows, hair must be neatly brushed, and braids are allowed, but not beads.
The Need For Speed
Sometimes it just feels good to catch some speed. It's been reported that on Disney property, the Disney police pull over more cast members and other Disney employees than actual guests. Maybe they're just really excited to get to work? Or maybe they're usually running late. Or they know by working there they won't get that bad of a punishment.
Stay In Your Lane
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Harry Potter and Peter Pan were friends? When in character, cast members are not allowed to talk about or acknowledge characters or brands outside the Disney universe. Even the king of pop was just another guy.
How Disney Helps You Spend
In order to make purchases even easier, Disney has a policy that anything you purchase can be delivered to your hotel if you're staying at a Disney resort, or you can have them delivered to the front of the park for you to pick up on your way out.
Other Ways To Make Money
It's an insider secret that if you ask nicely, a cast member will bring your purchases to the front of the park for you so you can pick them up on your way out. You can't say Disney doesn't want all your shopping dreams to come true!
Taking Out The Trash
It might not be the most glamorous job, but everyone is expected to pull their weight when it comes to keeping Disney parks clean. Even Snow White. Unless, of course, she has the dwarves around to help her. (It looks like Alice is less than thrilled by the task at hand.)
No Squatting Allowed
Not only do cast members have to clean up whenever necessary, they're expected to grab trash gracefully. So no squatting allowed. What that leaves is a mystery. Maybe an elegant dip followed by a twirl? Or perhaps some type of tag team trash taking out routine.
Put On A Happy Face
When they're on the clock, cast members have a slew of behaviors that are strictly prohibited. At the top of the list? Frowning. Disney not only wants to have control over what you look like, but they also want to control the emotions you portray. But we can't blame them for this one. Because unless you're Grumpy the dwarf, no one wants to visit Disney World to see an angry Prince Charming.
